Sunday, June 4, 2017

CHURCHILL

This critique is revised from an earlier
version published on 6/1/17.The
revision is as a result of learning that the film does not adhere to important
historical facts, according to others more knowledgeable about history than I,
and most notably after a Radio Brave interview with Winston Churchill’s great
grandson (https://www.facebook.com/RadioBrave/).Jonathan Sandys has devoted his own professional life to the study of his grandfather’s life and legacy.In his own words, his “mission is to
continue the amazing legacy Sir Winston left the world, and work with present and
future generations to inspire the great leadership of courage, faith and
integrity employed by [Churchill] throughout his tumultuous life” (http://leadlikechurchill.org/profile/).In the interview, although
Jonathan Sandys praised the actors’ performances, he stated that the script is
highly inaccurate, specifically with reference to Churchill’s participation in
D-Day planning, his personality characteristics, and his relationship with his
wife Clementine.In my opinion,
this detracts significantly from the film Churchill,
so I have lowered my grade and revised some of the content of my original
review.

In the film, it’s June of 1944, and France has
just come under German occupation in WWII. The Allied commanders are meeting in London to consider
Operation Overlord, a D-Day plan to invade France on its northern border and
drive the Nazis out of the country.There has already been general consensus that it’s a viable plan, and
General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces (Slattery), Field
Marshall Montgomery, Field Marshall Smuts (Durden), and the other leaders are
forging ahead with it.Although
the film depicts Prime Minister Churchill as disrupting the planning, this is
not what actually happened; he was completely in favor of the plan.

Also in the film, for the first time, perhaps,
we get a peek into the role his wife “Clemmie” played in supporting Winston, which
is historically accurate.She was
stalwart and helpful in her advice, and the couple had a mutually beneficial,
loving marriage. The film indicates that there was considerable conflict
between them, which is inaccurate.

Churchill
is beautifully filmed, coming across suspenseful and as much of a thriller as a
biographical dramatization, even though we know how it’s going to turn out.
Director Jonathan Teplitzky (“Indian Summers”, “Broadchurch”, and The Railway Man) and Cinematographer
David Higgs present us with scenes that are visually luxuriant with symbolic
references for more depth of meaning. Higgs captures symbolic moments with his
camera, as when Churchill drops his hat while leaning over the muddy beach and
it gets tossed into a turbulent sea growing progressively more red, trying to
ride its waves (moments of agony for Churchill); or at the end when he gives a
salute with it on his cane to the troops’ invasion of Normandy, and after his
giving in to the pressures he has faced, it flies off, and scoots playfully
down the seaside as if to say, “all is well.”

The talented and experienced composer and
musician Lorne Balfe seamlessly pairs his music with moods of whatever scene is
taking place, whether it’s of Churchill contemplative on the isolated beach,
the zippiness of a car tooling down the country roads, personal conflicts, or
more severe modernistic strains accompanying thoughts and talks of war.

Brian Cox has probably delivered the peak
performance of his career in depicting such a complex and deeply respected
figure in world history.He
convincingly captures Churchill, who has been credited as “the greatest Briton
of all time” because of his depth and honesty of character.He was a fearless leader who, at the
same time, had the greatest respect for his king, King George VI.Not an easy role to play.Miranda Richardson as Clementine had a
challenge of matching the fine performance of Lindsay Duncan in the 2016 TV
production, “Churchill’s Secret.”She does this capably and provides warmth and subtle wit to this
presentation.

This is a British production with mixed quality
about the Allied decision to invade Normandy and liberate France on D-Day, 1944.Filming overall is of the highest
quality in terms of direction, acting performances, cinematography and
music.It is unfortunate that Alex
von Tunzelmann’s script strays so far from historical fact, whether it was her
own decision or those of the producers’ overseeing the project.

Dramatization of the Allied commanders’
decision to invade Normandy on D-day, 1944.